Area Minority Leaders Rally Support For Men's March

A group of minority lawmakers joined community leaders Friday in publicly endorsing the planned Million Man March, scheduled Oct. 16 in Washington.

In a press conference at the Legislative Office Building, they sought to promote local efforts to get thousands of black and Latino men to participate. And they responded to recent criticism of plans for the event, which its organizers say is intended to inspire reponsibility and self-reliance among the participants.

``We feel that this is a positive event because it is the initiation of a process of self-examination for African American and Latino men that will require them to ask the question: What is it that I personally can do to strengthen myself and my community?'' said state Sen. Eric D. Coleman, D-Bloomfield.

Recently, there has been criticism of the event on local radio, as well as on the national level. The opposition focuses on one of the national organizers, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, whose critics accuse him of having a message of hate.

``While we may momentarily lament the inability of detractors to appreciate or understand the significance of this event, we will not allow their criticism or their negativity to deter, distract or impede us in any way from doing what we feel we must for the sake of our families and the stability of our communities,'' Coleman said.

Former state Treasurer Joseph Suggs of Bloomfield said at Friday's event that the planned march is such an important occasion that ``it is time to put aside what differences we may have, and come together for the greater good . . . as Latino and African American men to establish our own destiny.''

The planned march has stirred much recent discussion. Earlier this week, several Hartford city council members balked at the idea of closing schools Oct. 16 so students and teachers could attend.

Besides Farrakhan, the other main architect of the Oct. 16 event is former NAACP head Benjamin Chavis, who will come to Hartford Oct. 8 to speak about the march. He will talk at 7 p.m. in Splendor Heights on Main Street, said Lloyd Wimbish, coordinator for the state legislature's Black and Puerto Rican Caucus.

Among the organizations represented at Friday's event were the Benjamin E. Mays Academy, the Harambee Association, and Muhammad Mosque of Islam No. 14. Persons interested in more information about the Oct. 16 march are asked to call the mosque at 525- 2862.